The Staircase: 911 / Chiroptera / The Great Dissembler (Season 1 Episodes 1-3)
The Staircase makes its much-anticipated debut on HBO Max, kicking off with The Staircase Season 1 Episodes 1-3.
The series follows the real-life case of Michael and Kathleen Peterson, the former of whom was convicted of murdering his wife, who was found dead at the bottom of the staircase. Michael and Kathleen are played by Colin Firth and Toni Collette, respectively, two well-distinguished actors who shine brightly and play well off of each other.
If you’re not familiar with the case and are worried that might be a problem going in, I can assure you it’s not. The Staircase Season 1 Episode 1, “911,” serves as a hearty introduction to the case and its many details.
It jumps through time quite often, flashing from the night of Kathleen’s demise to weeks and even months before, giving us a glimpse into the family and cleverly introducing us to each character.
“911” does a great job of drawing in the viewer. In a series like The Staircase, where so much of the show revolves around the case and its many complicated details, it does a good job at keeping your interest while feeding you important bits. That being said, it is quite a lot to take in at once, and there were a few times I had to rewatch a scene to fully soak in every new detail revealed.
The cracks begin to show early on in the series, as the premiere episode ends with Kathleen’s sisters being shown her autopsy photos, which reveal that there may be a more sinister cause of her death than originally thought.
The Staircase Season 1 Episode 2, “Chiroptera” gives us more insight into Kathleen as a person, and what her life was like in the months leading up to her death. But most notably to me, is that it’s also the episode when I truly noticed the brilliant cinematography.
Specifically, you can see it in the fundraiser sequence as it’s interwoven with present-day shots of Michael and his lawyers walking throughout the house. It has an almost eerie feel to it, seeing how similar their surroundings look even when every other aspect of these characters’ lives has been changed forever.
The episode also brings us into Michael’s memory of the night, as his lawyers try to come up with reasonings behind the injuries revealed in the autopsy report. We then watch the fateful night through the mind of Michael and his lawyers, bearing witness to the accident with our own eyes.
And boy is it hard to watch.
Toni Collette’s acting chops are in high gear, with the kind of performance that leaves you with goosebumps. But it’s not just Collette who gets to show off her skills. Olivia DeJonge also turns in a stellar performance as Caitlin.
Speaking of, she separates herself from the rest of the Peterson family as more and more details surrounding her mother’s death are revealed to her. It’s an interesting turn of events as we see the divide between the once close-knit group begin to deepen. However, she isn’t the only one who has her suspicions; as Martha’s own doubts begin to seep in during The Staircase Season 1 Episode 3.
This is a big episode for Martha and Margaret as details of their biological mother are brought to light, bringing with it a shock twist. It’s revealed that their mother was also found dead at the bottom of her staircase, and was found by none other than Michael. Horrible coincidence or something much more telling?
Things start to crumble around Michael in Episode 3, and Colin Firth’s portrayal here is one for the books. He plays the part so well, somehow managing to make Michael both sympathetic and suspicious, so you’re left unsure where your opinion lies. Perhaps it’s due to Firth’s natural charm, but he had me hooked throughout the entire hour.
A small side plot we’ve been following is wrapped up here with a thrilling conclusion: “How did a woman end up at the bottom of the stairs dead from blunt force trauma, with an object heavy enough to kill but light enough not to fracture a skull?” It’s a question asked by Duane Deaver from the SBI as he sets out to uncover an answer.
It’s revealed late into Episode 3 that it was indeed from a blow poke, used for stoking fires. Something that was suggested by Candace in Episode 2’s cliffhanger ending. Jim and Freda are also given permission around this time to exhume Liz Ratliff (Martha and Margaret’s biological mother).
And that paired with the murder weapon being disclosed will make for a very interesting trial.
This is what Episode 4 will seemingly follow, as we are left listening to the sound of Michael’s pounding heart as he settles in for day 1 of the trial at the end of the episode, something that is sure to be riveting.
There is little to dislike within Episodes 1-3, the performances thus far have been standout and the story proves to be deeper and darker with every passing moment. Sure that could change as the series goes on, but for now, it’s a confident, carefully crafted web of twists and turns that only seems to be getting better.
What did you think of this episode of The Staircase? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Staircase airs Thursdays on HBO Max.
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Samantha Graves
Samantha is an avid pop-culture enthusiast who arguably watches too much TV and movies and can often be found on Twitter gushing about her favourite things. She’s #TeamJess, a Lucas and Peyton defender, and an all-around Hollywood fanatic. She also has a podcast (Enter The Fangirls).